The Nasarawa state Governor, Abdullahi Sule has pledged his administration’s commitment to promoting the rights and well-being of Persons Living With Disabilities ( PLWDs) in the state.
Governor Sule stated this at the graduation ceremony of PLWDs trained on Vocational and Skills acquisition programs held at the Special School Lafia, Nasarawa state capital.
According to him, the state will continue to enact laws aimed at protecting the rights of children, women, and PLWDs, while urging parents to take responsibility for their children and show love to them especially those living with one form of disability or the other to give them a sense of belonging.
“This administration has done a lot to protect citizens of the state including those living with disabilities. We have so far launched free medical care for disabled persons and have also given free education not only PLWDs at the primary schools but also secondary and tertiary Institutions.
“At the party level, we have ensured that people with disabilities are given political appointments and others are made committee members at both ward and local government levels.
” We should not discriminate against any person living with a disability because there is ability in disability,” he noted.
The Governor while commending his predecessor, Senator Umaru Al-Makura for establishing a special school for PLWDs in the state, called on them to take vocation and skills acquisition training seriously to become self-reliant.
He also urged citizens of the state to continue to observe the COVID-I9 protocol and to ensure that they are vaccinated to protect themselves against the virus.
Meanwhile, a Non – Governmental Organisation, (NGO), ActionAid Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to leverage the additional revenue of the country by closing tax loopholes and limiting unnecessary tax incentives to provide disability-friendly public services including public transport.
The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi who made the call in Abuja in commemoration of International day of PLWDs with the theme “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post- COVID-I9 World” noted that about 95.5% of children with disability were out of school due to non-enrollment as a result of their condition.
She decried the lack of adequate classrooms, inaccessible learning environment, Inadequate facilities to support their learning as teachers were unable to give PLWDs the required support to enable them to acquire adequate education, thus creating a huge gap in their ability to participate in leadership and overall development of the country.
Mrs Obi who commended the federal government on the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPWD), stressed the need for government to invest more in infrastructure and public services that account for the needs of this teeming population, and by extension persons with disabilities.
“Governments should ensure that PLWDs participate equally and meaningfully in all processes; designing, legislating, and budgeting for city planning and public transport.
“We call on state governments to expedite action in domesticating the Disability Commission as further delay will amount to great injustice especially at a time when the world is battling COVID-19, one of the most lethal pandemics in the history of mankind.
“ActionAid has been working on disability issues before 2015 when world leaders committed to achieving SDG 4 to deliver equitable, inclusive, and quality education for all by 2030. ActionAid Nigeria’s evidence-based approach to work over the years showcases challenges faced by Persons with Disability, one of which is the disability and gender gaps impacting on their participation in all spheres of life.”.
She added that her Organisation would continue to work with PLWDs to advocate for their rights, push for their inclusion, support the development of policies and budgets for inclusive education.
PIAK
